It is a game that any supporter can enjoy and one that comes with the guarantee of an argument. How many A-List players does your club have? The criteria are wide-ranging and subjective and go beyond the obvious questions of talent and the ability to perform when it matters the most.

The player's importance to his international team is fundamental and then there are the intangibles connected to his personality. Are the press happy to see him at a press conference? Are the fans pleased to hear his views? Column inches are a decent barometer of status. So are shirt sales. A maverick edge can also work.

Arsenal have five A-listers. They are, in no particular order, Cesc Fábregas, William Gallas, Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott. The reason for bringing all this up is because, on one of the biggest nights in their history, Arsenal must make do without the first four, because of injuries. They must attempt to beat Barcelona, the European champions and by popular consent the most thrilling team in world football, without their spine, their sparkle. Without the players who most readily define their identity.

Arsène Wenger could be forgiven for feeling that the Fates have conspired against him, as he felt they did when his team lost to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final, a game that was deformed by the early sending-off of Jens Lehmann, the Arsenal goalkeeper. Arsenal have never beaten Barcelona and unless they can fashion a high‑scoring draw, they will have to do so inside the daunting arena that is Camp Nou.

Yet Wenger has faith in his supporting cast. It is absolutely unwavering. A little over a year ago, before his team faced Roma in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 match, he said that he had a golden generation of young players to rival that which Manchester United developed in the 1990s. He name-checked not only Fábregas and Walcott but Samir Nasri, Abou Diaby and Denilson. He might also have mentioned Nicklas Bendtner, who he said last night offered the team a different attacking dimension.

In Arsenal games, tumultuous emotion can appear as the default setting and the character of these players has been forged in adversity and bitter disappointment. It has manifested itself collectively this season, Wenger believes, in the startling number of late goals that they have scored. If there is the feeling that destiny is somehow dragging Arsenal towards glory, there is the hope this evening that Wenger's emerging lights can illuminate the occasion.

"Nasri has developed very well this season, step by step, and he will be one of the leaders of the game," said Wenger, who forecast that the midfield would witness "the biggest part of the battle". "Diaby has become a very important player in our squad as well while Denilson, after a very good start to the season and then a little dip, is coming back very strong.

"We might have injuries but what gives me belief is the quality of players I still have on the pitch. And I still have some good players to leave out. This team has exceptional character and when you have character, you always have hope. With character and quality, you can fight anywhere in the world. We were written off before the season started but there are five games to go in the Premier League and we are still in there. It's the same in the Champions League."

Wenger will not only be relying on the potential of youth against Barcelona. At 35 Sol Campbell is more golden oldie but, if he passes a fitness test on a tight hamstring, Wenger will ask him to marshal the centre of defence against the tricks and menace of Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodríguez and Bojan Krkic, who is expected to start ahead of Thierry Henry in place of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Wenger described Bojan as "very mobile, very tricky, very short and with very quick feet"; not only the antithesis of Ibrahimovic but an exacting test for Campbell, who has looked short of a yard since he re-joined Arsenal. The veteran was signed, in part, for his experience and ability to inspire the younger players around him but tonight, as with everybody according to Wenger, he will be required to play the match of his life.

"There are some big players missing but there are also others who can come in and do a job," said Walcott, who has been singled out by the Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, for the threat that he poses with his pace. "I have been to some fantastic stadiums in my short career but this could top the lot, and especially if we got the win. We have to believe we can do it."